Cedric Crane and the legend of Sleepy Hollow
Chapter 7: Endless bounty
Finally seeing the Van Tassel estate without the foot ache he'd been suffering for days, Cedric Crane got a good look at just how beautiful the lands were. It seemed to stretch for miles, clear blue skies meeting lush green over the horizon. The air was filled with the rhythmic sound of metal horseshoes thumping against cobblestone, and the occasional whinny from said horse. Before the coach was a pure cream colored mare, her hair white like milky streams and her body powerful.
She was a gorgeous beast, though Cedric had only caught a glimpse of her when boarding the stagecoach. Seated on the left most side at the small window, he watched the passing scenery. They were only moving at a trot, but it was as if he were flying away from the discomforts of cold and exhaustion, as the orchard trees sped past them one after another.
Rolland was sitting across from him, simply resting in his seat, probably accustomed to carriage rides and already bored with the thrill. Again, Cedric envied him, knowing that as soon as they arrived to the school house, Rolland would likely abandon him to walk back to the tavern alone. Just the thought of that future gave him a ping of phantom pain in the bones of his sole, so he focused on the ride.
From his position, Cedric could see into the on coming distance ahead of them, and the long road wasn't as empty as it had been when Cedric walked up this way with Mr James Van Tassel earlier in the day.
Ladies with skirts of varying colors were now strutting by towards the estate, clustered in small groups and chatting as they walked.
"That'll be my daughters." Rolland Van Tassel said, peeking out the window at the flocks of feminine figures.
When the man suggested, that the young ladies traveling up the cobblestone street were his own children, Cedric honestly believed that all twelve or so young ladies belonged to him. With all the luxury this man had flaunted, it wouldn't be surprising if he was father to a parade of off-spring.
"Daughters?" Cedric asked anyway, with an arched brow, seeing as despite his own judgments this would still be rather ridiculous.
"Ah, yes. I'm sorry, I realize I haven't really shared anything at all about myself or my family." Rolland said with a sheepish smile. "You see, I actually have three children. James, Amber, and Sofia my youngest. The girls like to have their friends over for lunch after church, so the house is usually full on Sunday afternoons." The man then leaned in to mutter to Cedric. "And that, is why I'm always a busy man on Sundays."
Cedric gave a sound of understanding, and returned his gaze to the passing trees, but when he spotted a familiar face amongst the small crowd, he shifted to inspect the pack of ladies as they neared. It was Vivian Mills, the girl who fiddled for the Sleepy Hollow tavern.
Walking along side a lady in a rosy pink winter hood, the black haired fiddler gave a glance at the coach as it approached, her green eyes becoming visible beneath her straight cut bangs. She was dressed differently than the night he'd seen her first, and her hair was hidden beneath a hat covered in flowers, but it was definitely the same woman.
"Driver, please stop here." Rolland commanded, and the driver obeyed, pulling on the reigns and whistling a sharp tone. The peach apple horse whinnied and staggered, it's sharp shoes stomping upon the stone, but it soon slowed to a gradual stop beside Vivian and her walking companions.
If only Cedric had brought her cloak with him, then he'd be able to return it to her now. He internally cursed himself for not having this foresight, though he couldn't imagine how he would have be able to predict this. When the ladies began to crowd around the stagecoach window, Cedric quickly shrank and slid to the other side, awkwardly staring out the opposite window, pretending not to see them.
"Good morning girls." Rolland greeted, with the wave of his hand.
"Good morning, Mr Van Tassel." Many of the women responded, but one lady with hair of gold and a dress of matching glamor, stepped up to the coach window. "Hi Daddy." She greeted, giving the older man a kiss on the cheek. This was Amber Van Tassel, though Cedric hadn't been introduced yet, and she dressed in only the finest.
"You're walking today? Where's James and the hay cart?" He asked his daughters, though which daughter Cedric wouldn't know.
"James took the horse, and ran off to race with the boys." Amber replied in an irritated tone. "Where are you off to Daddy?" She asked, batting her lashes and tilting her head innocently.
"The school house, I have to go over the repairs with the new school master before it can be reopened." Rolland answered with a smile. "Soon, Sleepy Hollow will finally hear the sounds of children learning from it's windows again."
Amber smiled back at her Father, showing her white teeth and giving her hazel eyes a cat like expression. "That's wonderful Daddy." She said, though it sounded disingenuous. "Will you be home in time for lunch?"
This time it was Rolland that sounded insincere as he announced. "I wouldn't miss it for the world Princess!"
Listening to the man speak to his clearly rotten seed, was bringing several levels of nausea to Cedrics stomach, but luckily, the coach was beginning on it's way again. He gave a quick peek over his shoulder to see if the fiddler was still in view, but instead of the black haired musician, Cedric saw an angel.
Or at least, she looked like an angel. She stood between the baron trees, and her silhouette was striking in contrasted color, with skirts of soft purple, and her cape of pure rosy velvet. A blossom of lilac in a white bed of winter. Her eyes were a sky shade of sparkling blue that stared into him, and curls the color of copper honey spilling out of her hood.
She was as beautiful as a honeycomb tea cake was delicious, and the mental comparison between the two, caused Cedric to gulp down the pool of drool that collected in his mouth. The way this maiden effected him, was unbearable. He didn't even know her, not even her name, and yet he was melting at only the sight of her heaven sent figure.
As the coach pulled away, Cedric balked openly at her. He quickly moved to press his face against the window, so that he may hold her in his gaze a little longer before she shrank into the distance. She was watching him, or the stagecoach, as it sped away on the cobblestone, and before she was left behind by the others, the maiden adjusted her hood and turned away from him.
When the angels grip on his heart loosened Cedric was disgusted with himself. He slumped back into his seat as the carriage pulled around into the town center, and turned down a dirt side road. Cedric rarely took an interest in courtly attraction, but this woman captured him at a glance.
It was at that moment, that the horse and cart came to a stop, and Cedrics inner turmoil had also ended, with the opening of the coach door. "Here we are!" Rolland said, gesturing with outstretched arms to the building, though calling it a building was a loose term. "The Sleepy Hollow school house!"
The school house was in more than just disrepair, it was an absolute hazard. Shingles sliding off the roof, wide holes in the window panes, and broken or even missing floor boards. There wasn't anything even worth saving with all the rot and mold, but when Cedric gave Rolland an open mouth stare, he simply smiled back at him, oblivious of his own idiocy.
'Like father, like son.' Cedric thought, and clamped his mouth shut. He stepped out of the carriage to better observe the damages, eyeing the school house with weary distain. It was a scattered mess.
"I know it's a little…" Rolland stammered for something to say, before deciding on. "…old, but I'm surety boys can fix it up in no time at all!" The wealthy man gave a cheery laugh and slapped Cedric on the back, unknowingly sending shocks of pain through his spine.
He winced at the pain, then took a deep breath to ease the anger rising behind his eyes. "The… Sleepy Hollow boys?"